Meeting & Events Operations Director - 02- Meeting & Events in Ilford

Responsibilities

• Manage all functions of the Meetings and Events Operations Department.
• Ensure conferences, meetings and group activities are coordinated and managed in line with client expectations.
• Upsell client events and manage function space and room block inventory to maximize hotel profit.
• Ensure hotel and client fulfil the group’s contractual commitments.
• Complete forecasts, plans and productivity reports for management.
• Participate in the preparation of the annual departmental operating budget and financial plans.
• Monitor budget and upsell products and services while minimizing waste to increase revenue.
• Negotiate food and beverage prices, function space and hotel services within approved booking guidelines.
• Direct day‑to‑day meetings and event activities, plan and assign work, and establish performance and development goals for team members.
• Provide mentoring, coaching and regular feedback to manage conflict and improve team performance.
• Educate and train team members in compliance with brand standards, service behaviours and governmental regulations.
• Ensure staff have the tools, training and equipment needed to carry out their duties.
• Promote teamwork and quality service through daily communication and coordination with other departments.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels based on guest volume.
• Interact with outside contacts such as guests and vendors as needed.
• Provide guests with information (loyalty programmes, area attractions, restaurants, facility information) to enhance the guest experience.
• Conduct banquet and catering facility tours and entertain clients to enhance their experience.
• Assist clients with menu planning, food and beverage coordination, table arrangements and decoration options.
• Arrange all details of meetings and conventions including room set‑ups, staging, lighting, audiovisual, traffic flow, menus, décor, entertainment, group room blocks and VIP services.
• Plan and conduct pre‑event and post‑event meetings with clients and catering staff to identify potential enhancements.
• Analyse and act on client satisfaction surveys to improve services.

Qualifications

• 5 years of related experience, including management experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing a large Meetings & Events operation.

Location

InterContinental London – The O2 is located on Greenwich Peninsula attached to the O2 arena. It boasts a stunning backdrop of the River Thames and Canary Wharf and offers 493 bedrooms, diverse dining selections, a spa and state‑of‑the‑art conference and meeting rooms, including the UK’s largest pillar‑free ballroom.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 28 days holiday, increased after 5 years of service
• Free meals on duty
• Discounted employee and family rates at Arora Hotels
• Food and beverage discounts
• Christmas gifts and employee parties
• Friend scheme
• Cycle 2 work scheme
• UK attraction discounts at Merlin Entertainments
• Taste card
• Life assurance scheme
• Wage stream
• Employee assistance programme
• Arora star employee recognition
• Long service recognition award